Director of First Year Advising

Director of First-Year Advising

Job Description: The Director of First-Year Advising at Lyon College provides leadership in an intentional, holistic, developmental advising process by identifying and implementing innovative models and programs, developing policies, and offering support to advisers. Reporting to the Associate Dean of the Faculty, the Director is responsible for leading the First-Year Advising program and ensuring that a proactive and high-quality approach is taken to student advising in support of student success and retention. The Director maintains departmental budgets; trains and supervises members of the First-Year Advising staff; analyzes programs and goals and recommends improvements; ensures that program goals are met; and maintains efficient operating procedures. The position works closely with faculty and staff across campus to develop collaborative approaches that enrich the work of First-Year Advising.

Appointment: Full-time; annual/12-month; in-person; staff/exempt.

Recommended Start Date: August 1, 2026

Required:

• A Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred);
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills;
• Commitment to fostering belonging, engagement, and academic success for all students;
• Demonstrated ability to lead collaboratively within the Academic Services team.
• Physical ability to recognize data in the written form (i.e. schedules, reports, etc.) so as to enter data in a computer system;
• Physical ability to sit for extended periods of time (i.e. computer);
• Physical ability to use the telephone to conduct business;
• Physical ability to stand and to lift moderate weight;
• Occasional weekend/evening work required.

Preferred: Previous experience in a liberal arts college environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of developmental advising models and student success best practices in higher education.
• Collaborative approach to working with faculty, staff, and campus partners to support holistic student development and academic achievement.
• Demonstrated leadership in training, mentoring, and supporting advising staff.
• Commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and student-centered academic environment.
• Capacity to manage multiple priorities and maintain effective operational procedures in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and initiative in working with students and campus stakeholders.
• Skill in designing student-centered interventions and initiatives that promote academic success and engagement.
• Proficiency with student information systems, database management, and communication platforms such as Microsoft Office and Zoom.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and evaluate First-Year Advisers and provide ongoing resources, support, and training in developmental advising and student success.
• Work closely with the Associate Dean of the Faculty in implementing an advising model that is inquiry-based, focused on students' academic and creative interests, and structured around continuous goal setting and reflection.
• Provide students with guidance and tools to become self-directed and responsible for their educational choices, and ensure that all First-Year Advisers do the same.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to develop, implement, assess, and revise intervention strategies that improve student success and retention.
• Assess the need for support services and make referrals to faculty and campus resources for students experiencing academic challenges.
• Develop and implement creative and responsive programming related to student success initiatives, including in-person and virtual workshops focused on academic success.
• Work closely with Career Services to strengthen advising systems that connect academic choices with professional goals.
• Collaborate with the Associate Dean of the Faculty and Division Chairs to improve the declaration and major-onboarding process.
• Collaborate with Student Life and other campus components to plan and facilitate Scot Week programming for first-time and transfer students.
• Foster collaborative relationships with faculty and staff across campus to promote First-Year Advising services and programs.
• Ensure advising processes and procedures are documented, regularly updated, and assessed according to the Lyon College Assessment Plan.
• Serve on college committees and participate in institutional projects.
• Represent First-Year Advising at Enrollment Services events, including recruiting visits, Preview Days, and Honors Fellow weekends.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Assessment and Strategic Planning:

• Ensure that five-year program assessment portfolios and annual progress reports are completed by the First-Year Advising program as required by the Institutional Assessment Committee (IAC), and use the results to create a culture of data-based decision-making and continuous improvement throughout the program.
• Analyze advising and retention data to identify trends and recommend evidence-based program improvements.